Fruit orienting apparatus



9 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 23, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL FRUIT ORIENTINGAPPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 14, 1960 f w ....n @.v

nv Om ATTO RNEY Nov. 23, 1965 s. H. CREED ETAL FRUIT ORIENTING APPARATUS9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 14. 1960 UIPIHUHIHI INVENTORSSHERMAN H. CREED NOV. 23, 1965 s H, @REED ETAL 3,219,168

FRUIT ORIENTING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 14, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 5ll'IlS En Ln v INVENTORS SHERMAN H. CREED JAMES L.REIMERS ATTORNEY Nov.23, 1965 s. H. cREl-:D ETAL 3,219,168

FRUIT ORIENTING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 14, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 4N N l oN NINVENTORS SHERMAN H. cnil-:D '\N JAMES l.. REIMERs d ATTORNEYNov. 23, 1965 s. H. cRr-:ED ETAL FRUIT ORIENTING APPARATUS 9Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 14. 1960 Pim-uri! m 0mm INVENTORSSHERMAN H. CREED JAMES L. REIMERS ATTORNEY Nov. 23, 1965 s. H. cREEDETAL 3,219,168

FRUIT ORIENTING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 14. 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 6if) 3% NN INVENTORS SHERMAN H. CREED JAMES L. REIMERS ATTORNEY Nov. 23,1965 s. H. CREED ETAL 3,219,168

FRUIT ORIENTING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 14, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 7254 /250 295 ggg "F' 1 E.' El

T| |55 283 T T2 '32 28o gg |e5L T 2| ,98 la? 432 s2 INVENTORS SHERMAN H.CREED JAMES L. REIMERS ATTO RN EY Nov. 23, 1965 S. H. CREED ETAL FRUITORIENTING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 14, 1960 313 soo l 325 3 e aosSI2.

INVENTORS SHERMAN H. CREED JAMES L. REIMERS ATTORNEY Nov.23, 1965 sl H.CREED ETAL FRUIT ORIENTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original FiledSept. 14. 1960 m-Hllm-HIHI wmv Nw@ @Nm INVENToRs SHERMAN H. cREx-:oJAMES Lal-:mens

BY W

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,219,168 FRUIT GRIENTING APPARATUSSherman H. Creed and .l ames L. Reimers, San Jose, Calif., assignors toFMC Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application Sept.14, 1960, Ser. No. 56,059, now Patent No. 3,096,800, dated July 9, 1963.Divided and this application Sept. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 250,196

Claims. (Cl. 198-33) This application is a division of Sherman H. Creedet al., Serial No. 56,059, led September 14, 1960, now Patent No.3,096,800, July 9, 1963, for Apparatus for Processing Fruit, andassigned to the assignee of the present invention.

This invention relates to apparatus for processing fruit and moreparticularly relates to apparatus for centering fruit having an indent,preparatory for a subsequent cutting operation, such as a coringoperation. Although the invention is not so limited, the embodiment ofthe invention to be described is an apparatus for centering fruit suchas tomatoes by means of the stem indent of the fruit, in preparation fora subsequent coring and blossom end trimming operation.

Fruit such as tomatoes have a relatively soft body surrounded by arelatively thin fragile skin and must be delicately handled to avoiddamaging of the body or meat portion of the fruit. Tomatoes have a sternwhich projects from what is termed an indent, which indent is aconcavity or recess in the general form of a concave surface ofrevolution, the axis of the surface being generally aligned with thecore of the fruit. Opposite the stem end of the tomato is the blossomend of the tomato and among the operations required for preparingtomatoes for subsequent processing are those of removing the core andblossom of the tomato. These operations are usually performed after theskin has been treated so as to loosen it for a subsequent peelingoperation. The apparatus of the present invention is of the type whereinthe tomatoes are placed on a conveyor and are carried through a lye bathto loosen the skin and are then carried past a coring cutter and ablossom cutter, and after these operations are performed, the skin isremoved and the tomato is ready for further processing.

ln order to minimize waste by making it unnecessary to use an oversizecoring cutter, the coring outer must be brought into engagement with thefruit when the fruit is positioned so that the axis thereof is alignedwith the axis of the cutter, It is also desirable that the blossomcutter is aligned with the fruit axis. It is not practical toindividually align the cutters with the fruit so the other alternativeis employed, namely, the fruit is positioned on a moving conveyor sothat, when it reaches the cutters, it will be in alignment therewith.Since conveyors usually involve chains or other exible elements thatmight stretch or wear or both, and hence elongate with use, alignment ofthe fruit with the conveyor itself does not provide accurate alignmentover a long period of time. For example, the spacing of fruit locatingpins on chain mounted conveyor flights will gradually increase with thepassage of time, due to Wear in the chains and corresponding stretch orelongation of the conveyor. Since the only practical system is onewherein the operation of the cutters is timed by motion of the conveyor,this increased spacing of fruit centered relative to the conveyor,results in olf centered coring.

It is an object of the present invention to align the fruit or positionit on the conveyor before it reaches the cutters so that such alignmentis performed, not relative to the conveyor, but relative to the cuttersthemselves. Briefly, this is accomplished by providing fruit centeringmeans mounted upstream from the cutters and spaced from the cutters by axed predetermined distance which is equal to or is a multiple of thenominal or designed spacing of the individual conveyor ilights or fruitsupport members. This reduces waste by permitting the use of a minimumsize coring cutter.

In accordance with this invention, the fruit is placed on a conveyorflight or support plate with the stem cavity or indent down, and thecentering means operates on the indent to center the fruit relative tothe centering means. The centering means includes a pin, having asemispherical head, mounted below the conveyor ights, and means toproject the pin up through an aperture in the Hight and into contactwith the tornato at its indent. Since the core of the fruit correspondswith the axis of the indent, this type of cenering aligns the core withthe centering means. Furthermore, since the centering means is a fixeddistance from the cutters, it is a simple matter to time the mechanismso that when the fruit reaches the cutters, the cutters will be alignedwith the core or axis of the previously centered fruit.

As mentioned, tomatoes are fragile and are easily damaged, and this isparticularly true after they have been subjected to a softeningoperation such as that employed for loosening the skin of the tomatoespreparatory to a peeling operation. Thus, the centering means should beone that performs its function without damaging the body of fruit andwithout penetrating the `fruit and thereby providing a false centeringaction. Therefore, another object of the invention is to center thefruit accurately and gently. This is accomplished by providing one ormore centering pins spaced from the cutters by a predetermined distanceas mentioned above. Such centering pins are lifted vertically throughapertures in the fruit carrier to engage the indents of the fruit. Theyrise sufficiently so that the fruit is disposed upon the centering pinsIat the fruit indents. The centering pins are then vertically vibratedso that, if the indents are not centered on the pins, that is, if theaxis of the fruit does not correspond with the axis ofthe pins, therewill be a force component from each centering pin that is normal to thesurface of revolution forming the indent, which will shift the fruituntil the4 axis of the fruit corresponds with that of the centering pin.When this occurs, no further shifting of the fruit will occur, :and thefruit is positioned accurately relative to the cutters. The centeringpin or pins can then be withdrawn to redeposit the fruit on the supportplate, in a properly centered position. Of course, the depth of theindents of -fruit such as tomatoes may vary from fruit to Ifruit so thata fruit w-ith a shallow indent will be lifted further from the supportthan will one with a deep indent; but with the average run of fruit, theapparatus can be adjusted so that the lifting action is such that thefruit will be precisely centered by the centering pins. Actually, thefruit may cock somewhat so that one side of the peripheral portionsurrounding the indent remains in engagement with the support while thediametrically opposite peripheral portion is lifted, 1but this does notinterfere with the centering action, because functionally the fruit isdisposed on, or supported by the centering pins during the centeringoperation. During the centering operation, the head of the centering pinand any portion of the apertured plate that may be engaged by a portionof the fruit at the edge of the indent form the sole fruit guidingmeans. Only fruits with exceptionally large indents, outside the rangeof Iadjustment of the machine, will not be perfectly centered, but eventhese will be approximately centered.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is that of delicately andprecisely centering the fruit without creating any tendency to rotate ortumble the fruit, whereby the fruit will be left in centered positionafter the centering operation, with the stern end thereof facing down.

In some systems, `an operation such as a skin softening operation mayprecede the centering and coring operations and this operation may causethe fruit to shift rearwardly on its support, the fruit having beenshifted against a ange or rim -on the supporting plate forming theconveyor ight. In other cases, the fruit may have been initially placedin a rearward position relative to a theoretical central position on thesupport. Another object of the invention is to provide, during thecentering operation, an initial forward shifting of the fruit to bringit roughly into alignment with the theoretically correct position. Thisis accomplished by providing two centering pins, the Iirst centeringpin, that is, the rst one to be reached by the fruit, is mounted so thatin addition to providing the vertical lifting and vertical vibratingcentering action described above, it has imparted thereto an additional4forward shifting motion that brings the fruit, while disposed on theiirst pin, into the desired centered position on the conveyor. Thecentering action is then completed and made more precise when the fruitis brought over a second centering pin, which pin is iixed in the sensethat it has no forward or rearward motion, but merely a vertical liftingand vertical vibratory motion.

Other objects of the invention are the provision of simple mechanism forsynchronism or timing of the centering, coring and cutting mechanismswithV the conveyor, so

that the motion of theconveyor need not Ibe interrupted during theperformance of these operations.

Still' another object of the invention is that of providing an improvedreciprocating mounting mechanism for the unitsv to perform thecontinuous or iiying centering operation just described.

Anotherl object of the invention is that of providing an improved fruitmounting plate having a rearward retaining wall and an elongatedaperture so that fruit which may have been initiallypositionedof-center, or `brought to an off-center position on the plate,can be shifted to a centered position `by the forwardly shiftablecentering pin disposed beneath the conveyor and extendable through theelongated aperture in the plate .and int-o engagement with the indent ofthe fruit.

Other features and objects of the present invention will be apparent4from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG.` 1 is a planv view ofthe fruit processing machine of the presentlinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a portion of theconveyor of FIG. 1.

v FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of themachine of FIG. 1, looking in the direction-indicated by lines 4 4 inFIG. 2, with the cover of the lye tank removed.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken on line 6 6 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a vertical section, with parts broken away, taken on line 7 7of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section, with parts broken away, taken along line8 8 of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9, 10. and 11 are schematic views showing the centering coringthewtrimming mechanisms used in the present machine, said views showingthe mechanisms in consecutive operating positions.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical Asection taken on line 12-12of FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is anenlarged horizontal section taken on line 13 13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a vertical section taken on line 14 14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a vertical section taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation of the portion of the mechanismshown in FIG. 6 with parts broken away and partsshown in section.

The tomato processing machine of the present invention comprises anelongated frame support structure 20 (FIGS. l and 2) on which is mountedan endless chain conveyor 21 having an upper run movable toward theright, as seen in FIG. 2, to carry tomatoes T, that are disposed in cups24, through a series of processing stations. At a loading station 25, atomato is placed in each cup with its stem end facing downwardly. As thetomato is carried to the right it passes into a tank 27 in which it istreated for a predetermined time with a solution of lye. After leavingthe lye tank 27, the tornato is carried upwardly inside an inclinedhousing 28 in which excess lye is drained from the tomato, andthe tomatois exposed to a steam atmosphere for a fixed periodv of time duringwhich the lye on the skin penetrates to the desired depth to effectloosening of the skin from the esh of the tomato body. The steamatmosphere inthe housing 28 also raises the temperature of the tomatoskin to a predetermined optimum peeling temperature. After leaving thehousing 28, the tomato is moved through a section 32 wherein the tomatois first accurately centered, then a coring mechanism is moved upwardlyinto the stem end of the tomato to remove the Core, and a trimmingmechanism is carried downwardly to engage the blossom end of the tomatoto sever the connection of the skin to the blossom end of the tomato.After these operations, the skin has been completely loosened from theiiesh of the tomato body and has been separated from the stem andblossom ends of the tomato. The tomato isthen discharged from theconveyor 21 and directed downwardly through a skin removing unit 35where the skinis separated from the flesh of the tomato.

The support frame 20 is a welded structure comprising a series of spacedvertical channels 40 defining one side ofthe machine. Each of thechannels 40 is directly opposite a similar vertical channel in a line ofchannels whichdefine the opposite side of the machine. The verticalchannels are bolted to oor channels 42 .and are interconnectedinconventional manner by suitable transverse and longitudinal braces.Bearing blocks 45 are mounted at several positionsalong the frame.

The chain conveyor 21 comprises two endless chains 47 and 48-each ofwhich is trained around a sprocket 49 that is keyed to a transverserotatable shaft 50 (FIG. 2). As it travels toward the right, the upperrun of each chain is guided over a sprocket 52 keyed to a transverserotatable shaft 53, then under two idler sprockets 55 and 56 which arekeyed to two rotatable shafts 58 and 59, respectively, over an idlersprocket 60 which is keyed to a rotatable shaft 61, and around a drivesprocket 63 (FIG. 1) keyed to a drive shaft 65. A motor 66 is arrangedto drive the shaft 65 through a chain and sprocket arrangement 67. Thelower run of each of the conveyor chains 47 and 48 is held insubstantially horizontal position by idler sprockets 68, and a typicalchain tightener 69 is operatively associated ,with each chain.

In the present machine, each tomato is carried along in one of the cups24. As seen in FIG. l, six cups are mounted in a line extendingtransversely of the machine on aplate 80. The cups of the conveyor arealso disposed one'behind the other in lines extending longitudinally ofthe machine. Each transverse plate is secured at each endby bolts- 81(FIG. 43) to a special link 82 provided on the adjacent conveyor, chain47 or 48. Each plate 80 has an upstanding leading edge 83, an upstandingtrailing edge 84, and is provided with six keyhole-shaped openings 85,each of which has a circular portion 85a and a slotted portion 85b whichextends to the trailing edge 84. Each cup 24 is made up of a strap-likemember that has two lower edge portions 86, each of which projectsthrough a slot 87 in the plate 80, and is bent upwardly against theunderside of the plate to which it is secured as by welding. The cup,which is disposed around one of the keyhole openings 85, is open on itsleading side and has a recess 86a, provided in its trailing wallportion, which cooperates with the plate to deline a drain port 88through which the lye solution may escape.

The lye solution tank 27 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is a sheet metal structurewhich extends entirely across the support frame 20.

The lye solution is also directed downwardly from three overhead troughs(FIG. 5) which extend longitudinally of the tank, as seen in FIG. 4. Adistributor pipe 101 (FIG. 5) is mounted above each trough and hasseveral downwardly directed pipes 102 which ll the trough with lyesolution. When the trough is full, the lye solution overflows ontodownwardly and laterally slanted walls 103 of the trough, and eachslanted wall 103 directs the lye solution onto one of the longitudinallines of cups passing therebelow. The distributor pipes 101 are suppliedby a header 105 which receives the lye solution from a pump 106 (FIG. 1)which is driven by a motor 107 and is connected on its suction side to asump 108 (FIG. 5) of the lye tank. Steam ooils 110 are mounted in thebottom of tank to heat the lye solution.

Near the outlet end of the lye tank, at a point where the conveyor chain21 starts upwardly to lift the tomatoes out of the lye solution, acentering unit 114 (FIG. 5) is disposed above each longitudinal line ofcups on the conveyor. Each centering unit 114 comprises a pair ofvertical guide members 115 and 116 which are made of relatively rigidbut yieldable material such as rubber or heavy canvas, and are securedin depending relation on triangular horizontal brackets 1,18 (FIG. 4)which are supported from a transverse bar which is secured at each endto the side wall of the tank 27 by a bracket 121. Each pair of centeringmembers 115 `and 116 `define a wedge-shaped passage through which atornato must pass as it is lifted upwardly out of the lye solution.Since the tomato is still in a somewhat buoyant condition at this time,the centering members 115 and 116 move the tomato to the rear wall ofthe cup, and center the tomato in the cup. Then, when each tomato passesout of contact with the yieldable centering members and is out of thelye solution, it is in centered position in the rear of the cup.

When the tomatoes enter the processing section 32 of the machine, theyare engaged by a second centering mechanism (FIG. 6) which includes twotransverse rows 131 and 132 (FIG. 8) of upwardly projecting pins orfingers 135 yand 135e, respectively. The` pins of row 131 engage andmove the tomatoes disposed in one transverse row of cups toward acentered position, while the pins of row 132 perform a iinal centeringoperation on the tomatoes in a transverse row of cups that waspreviously acted on by the pins of row 131.

The two rows of centering pins perform their centering action while theyare moving rearwardly in the machine (to the right in FIG. 6) in timedrelation with the cups 24. This rearward movement of the centering pinsis obtained by the connection of the pins to a movable housing ormounting member (FIG. 6) which comprises a forward wall 141, a rear wall142, and side wall members 143 and 144 (FIG. 8). Each of the side wallmembers 143 and 144 has a mounting plate 160 secured to it by bolts 161,and each plate carries two rollers 162 that ride in a horizontal groove163 formed in a guide member 164 that is secured to the inner face of alongitudinal channel 165 vof the frame of the machine. Thus the fourrollers 162 guide the housing for horizontal reciprocating movement inthe frame of the machine.

Longitudinal reciprocation of-the housing 140 is effected through twotransversely spaced face cams and 171 (FIG. 7) that are keyed to atransverse shaft 172 which is rotatably journaled in bearings 173mounted on the frame structure. Each cam has a camming groove 175 (FIG.6) adapted to receive a follower roller 177 which is rotatably mountedon an arm bolted to the forward Wall 141 of the housing 140. As seen inFIG.

6, the configuration of each camming groove 175 of each cam is suchthat, as the shaft 172 is rotated, the housing is reciprocated forwardand back in the frame of the machine. The shaft 172 is driven through achain 181 that is trained around a sprocket 182 on the drive shaft 65and around a sprocket 183 (FIG. 7) keyed to the shaft 172.

The pins 135 of the transverse row 132 have rounded, segmental,spherical heads and have threaded Shanks (FIG. 6) adjustably mounted inya transverse channel 185 which is bolted to two spaced longitudinalangle bars 187 and 188 (FIGS. 6 and 8), each lof which is pivotallymounted at its forward end on a bar 190. The bar 190 is mounted in tabs191 projecting upwardly from a plate 192 that is secured by bolts 193 toa rearwardly projecting flange 194 of the forward wall 141 of thehousing 140. Intermediate its length, each of the angle bars 187 and 188carries a plate 198 that has a generally horizontal flange 199 whichrides along the upper surface of a split cam 200. The cam 200 has twohub portions 201 (FIG. 6) locked together around the shaft 172 bycapscrews. The camming surface of the cam 200 has a portion 200A that isdisposed relatively far from the shaft 172 and is provided with aplurality of relatively sharp peaks which engage the associated flange199 and impart a vibrating action to the bar 187 or 188 as the pins moverearwardly, to the right in FIG. 6, in an elevated position. With thisarrangement, the elevated pins 'of the row 132 are given a vibratingmovement which is effective to cause tomatoes, disposed on the upper endof the pins, to assume a centered position thereon.

The pins 135a of the transverse row 131 have rounded heads that areflattened at the sides to permit the pins to move upwardly through theslots 85b of the keyhole openings in the plate 80. The pins of row131also have threaded shanks adjustably mounted in a transverse angle bar210 (FIG. 6) that is welded to the upper ends of two upright bars 212and 2,13 (FIG. 8). Each of the bars 212 and 213 is secured by a setscrew(not shown) to a rod 215 that is pivotally mounted near its oppositeends in bearing plates 216 welded to the vertical ange 217 of each ofthe pivotal angle bars 187 and 188. Thus, the vibrating action of thebars 187 and 188 also imparts a vibrating movement to the pins 135e ofthe transverse row 131 as they move rearwardly in an elevated position.

It will also be noted in FIG. 6 that the cam 200 has a curved cammingsurface 200B that has a central portion disposed relatively close to theshaft 172. This surface permits theV pins to be lowered as they aremoved toward the front of the machine during the reciprocating movementof the housing 140.

The upright bar 212 (FIG. 6) has a roller 228 r0- tatably mounted on itslower end. The roller is held against a fixed, slanted abutment plate2.22 by the action of a tension spring 223 that is connected between theupper end of bar 212 and the angle bar 137. As the vibrating pinassemblies are moved rearwardly, or to the right in FIG. 6, the spring223 pivots the arm 212 and the rod 215, to which the arm 212 is keyed,in a clockwise direction until the arm 212 abuts the end of an adjustingbolt 230 that is threaded through theupper end of the bearing plate 216welded to bar 187. The bolt 230 is so adjusted that the pivotingmovement of the bar 212 is stopped when the pins 135 of the rear row 131are in vertical position. When the rows of pins are moved toward thefront of the machine during reciprocation of the housing 140, theslanted `abutment plate 222 ,causes the arm 212 to be pivotedcounterclockwise (FIG. 6) bringing the pins 135:1 of row 131 to thetilted position of FIG. 6.

A cycle in the operation of the second tomato centering mechanism 130 isillustrated in FIGS.-9, 10 and 1l. In FIG. 9 the housing 140 has alreadystarted its rearward movementin the direction of arrow A under thecontrol 7 of cams 170 and 171. The cams 200 have raised each centeringpin of row 131 upwardly through the slotted portion 85h of one of thekeyhole openings 85 (FIG. 3) in cup support plate 80 to engage a tomatoT2 (FIG. 9) which, at this time, is disposed in the trailing part of theassociated cup. The pins of row 132 have been moved upwardly to engage atomato T1 in the row preceding the row of tomatoes T2. As the housing140 continues its rearward movement the cams 200 vibrate the arms 187and 188 on which the centering pins are mounted. With this arrangementeach tornato automatically centers itself on a centering pin 135 and13551. Also, as the housing 140 moves rearwardly,vthe bar 212 is pivotedto upright vertical position by the spring 223 to shift the tomato T2and center it relative to the aperture 85a of the support plate S0.Therefore, when the housing 140 reaches the position of FIG. 10, thetomato T2 is centered in the cups and the tomato T1 has been furthercentered by the pins of row 132. When the cams 200 continue theirrotation from the position of FIG. 10, the centering pins are loweredand then the housing starts its return movement toward the front of themachine as seen in FIG. 1l.

After the tomatoes in a particular transverse line of cups have beencentered, they are moved under a blossom end trimming mechanism 250(FIG. 6) which comprises six individual trimming units 251, one unitbeing disposed in vertical alignment with each longitudinal line oftomato centering cups. Each unit 251 comprises a cutter head 260 (FIG.12) secured to the lower end of a rod 262 that is rotatably journaled ina bearing housing 263. The bearing housing 263 is pivotally mountedbetween arms 2650 and 2651 of a lever 265 and between arms 266a and26612 of a lever 266. The levers 265 and 266 are disposed in parallelrelation and are pivotally mounted at their inner ends between twospaced anges 270a and 270b (FIG. 7) of a bracket 270 that has a atcentral portion bolted to the vertical face of a channel member 275which is mounted transversely of the machine and has a ange mounted forvertical motion by pivoted arms 265, 266, the other ends of which arecarried by a plate 280, mounted on the reciprocating housing 140. Thecutter heads 260 are each vertically and individually reciprocated byeccentrics 283 (FIG. 12), mounted on a shaft 284 (FIG. 7), driven by achain 293 from the machine drive shaft 172. A balanced weight 296a ismounted on each cutter head assembly.

Each cutter or trimmer head 260 includes a plate 300 (FIGS. 13 and 14)mounted on the rotatable rod 262 and carving blossom trimming cutterpins 305. The pins project through an adjustable gage plate 312 thatdetermines the depth of cut. The cutter rod 262 is driven by a flexibleshaft 315 and the motor 66 (FIG. 6) through a transmission 317.

Each cutter head 260 has an independently mounted rubber tomato holddown ring 325 (FIGS. 12 and 14), secured to vertical straps 330, 331(FIGS. 12 and 13) which are supported on links 333, 342, the other endsof which are also supported by plate 280. The hold down cup is lifted bya roller 355 (FIG. 12) secured to link 333 and engaged by the cuttersupport link 266. A weight 350 lowers the hold down ring 325. Theoperation of the blossom trimmer forms no part of the present invention,and is described in detail and claimed in the copending application ofCreed et al., Serial No. 250,197, filed September 28, 1962, which isalso a division of the aforesaid patented parent application.

While the blossom end cutter unit engages the blossom end of the tomato,a coring unit 375 (FIG. 6) is moved upwardly to penetrate and core thetomato. A plurality of these coring units 375, which will now beexplained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 15, are mounted on an invertedchannel 377 which extends transversely of the machine. Adjacent each endof the channel 377 a compression spring 378 is disposed in supportingrelation between the channel 377 and a wall of the housing 140 (FIG.15).

The coring unit is mounted for independent vertical reciprocation in thelongitudinally reciprocable housing 140 by means of rollers 381 carriedby brackets 380 depending from the channel 377, and riding in verticaltracks 382 carried by housing 140.

The coring units 375 are vertically reciprocated by cranks 400, 401(FIGS. 15 and 16) pivotally mounted on the housing140 at 405, andoperated by eccentrics 402 carried by the shaft 172. This motion istimed with motion of the blossom trimming units 351 and the centeringpins 135.

Each coring cutter or knife 432 is rotated by a turbine rotor 420 (FIG.6) attached to the cutter shaft, and an air nozzle 426, connected to acompressed air source through lines 428.-

It will be understood that, during operation, the holddown ring 325engages the blossom end of the tomato first to hold it in fixed,non-rotating position. The blossom end cutter head 260 and the coringknife 432 then engage the tomato, approximately at the same time, totrim the blossom end and core the tomato.

After being trimmed and cored the tomatoes in each transverse line ofcups are carried around the discharge end of the conveyor 21 where eachtomato is dumped into f a sheet metal chute 449 which directs the tomatointo one of three skin-removing units 35.

To put the machine in operation, the pump motor 107 (FIG. 2) isenergized to begin the circulation of the lye solution in tank 27, andthe motor 66 is energized to rotate the cutter head of each blossom endtrim unit 251 and drive the shafts 65 and 172. Rotation of shaft 65causes movement of conveyor 21, and rotation of shaft 172 causesreciprocation of the housing 140, the raising, lowering and vibrating ofthe centering pins 135 and 135:1, the raising and lowering of theblossom end trimming units 251, and the raising and lowering of thecoring units 375.

At the feed station 25, the operator places a tomato stem end down ineach cup 24. As the tomato is carried through the lye tank 27, its lowerportion passes through the lye solution while lye is directed downwardlyonto the tornato from the overhead troughs 95. Just as the tomato israised upwardly out of the lye solution, it moves into the wedge-shapedpassage provided by the two slanted centering members and 116. Thesecentering members move the tomato to a centered position at the rear endof the cup 24. As the conveyor moves upwardly through the housing 28,the heated vapor in the housing maintains the lye coating on the tomatoat a temperature such that the lye will weaken the skin and loosen itfrom the iiesh under the skin. Excess lye drains out of the cup throughthe drain port 8S and is directed back to the tank.

When the tomato enters the Iprocessing zone 32 it is first engaged by apin a of a row 131. This pin is moved upwardly through the slot 85b ofthe keyhole opening 85 and into the stem indent of the tomato. As thepin is pivotally moved to the upright position of FIG. 10, the tomato isvibrated and moved to a centered position in the cup. The pin 135a isthen lowered and moved back toward the front of the machine to aposition under a tomato in the row of tomatoes next behind. When thecentering pins are again elevated, the pins 135 of row 132 move up intothe previously centered tomato and the tomato is once more agitated andcentered.

As the tomato is moved farther along the machine, it comes into aposition between a blossom end trimming unit 251 and a coring unit 375,which are moving in a circuitous path due to the reciprocation of thehousing 140, the rotation of eccentrics 283 and 402. The holddown ring326 of the unit 251 engages and centers the tomato in the cup andprevents rotation of the tomato while the cutter head 260 cuts into theblossom end of the tomato and the coring knife 432 cores the tomato.After the tornato has been cored and trimmed, it is carried to the endof the conveyor 21 where it is directed downwardly through the skinremoving unit 35.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the presentinvention provides a machine for precisely centering tomatoes or similarfruit, preparatory for a coring or trimming operation, or for both.

It will be understood that modifications and variations of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and isdesired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fruit processing machine, a conveyor having a support surfacewith a hole elongated in the direction of movement of said conveyor,said surface being arranged to advance a fruit placed stem end down overthe hole, a lever mounted below said conveyor for pivotal movementlongitudinally of said conveyor, a centering pin on the upper end ofsaid lever, means for reciprocating said lever forwardly and rearwardlyin a direction longitudinally of said conveyor, means for raising andlowering said lever in timed relation with the reciprocation of saidlever, a spring connected to said lever to pivot said lever to avertical position during forward movement of said lever, and an abutmentmember mounted below said conveyor in the path of movement of one end ofsaid lever as said lever is moved rearwardly whereby to pivot said leverto an inclined position against the resistance of said spring.

2. In a machine for processing fruit, a conveyor movable along apredetermined path, a fruit carrier mounted on said conveyor and havinga support formed with a hole therein, said support being arranged tosupport a fruit placed stem end down with the stem disposed over thehole, a centering pin disposed below said conveyor and below said hole,means mounting said centering pin for synchronized movement with saidconveyor, and means mounting said pin for swinging movement upwardlythrough the hole and rearwardly relative to said support in thedirection of movement of said conveyor to engage a fruit on said supportand move it rearwardly in said carrier.

3. In a machine for processing fruit, an endless chain conveyor havingan apertured fruit carrier arranged to advance a fruit placed stem enddown with the stem disposed over the aperture, a mounting member mountedbelow the upper run of said conveyor for reciprocating movementlongitudinally 'of the conveyor, a centering pin mounted below the upperrun of said conveyor, a rod pivotally connected to said centering pinand to said reciprocating member, a shaft mounted for rotation adjacentan intermediate portion of said rod, a cam on said shaft, meansproviding a cam follower on said intermediate rod portion, meansdefining a camming surface on said cam in contact with said follower,said camming surface being arranged to raise said centering pin throughthe aperture in the carrier, vibrate said pin, and lower said pin duringeach revolution of said shaft, and means including said shaft forreciprocating said mounting member in timed relation with the raisingand lowering of said centering pin.

4. In a fruit processing machine, an endless chain conveyor including aplurality of transverse fruit support plates, means deiining a hole ineach plate, each hole being elongated in the direction of movement ofsaid plates, a retaining wall secured in upright position on each ofsaid plates, each wall being laterally centered with respect to theassociated hole with the rear edge of the associated elongated holeterminating adjacent a portion of said wall, and centering means movableupwardly and rearwardly relative to said plate through said elongatedhole to engage a fruit on said plate and shift it relative to saidplate.

5. In a fruit processing machine, a conveyor having a fruit support witha hole formed in said support, said hole being elongated in thedirection of movement of said conveyor, said support being arranged toadvance a fruit placed stem end down with the stem disposed over thehole, a lever mounted below said conveyor for pivotal movementlongitudinally of said conveyor, a centering pin on the upper end ofsaid lever, means for reciprocating said lever forwardly and rearwardlyin a direction longitudinally of said conveyor, and means for raisingand lowering said lever in timed relation with the reciprocation of saidlever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,568,947 9/1951Carroll -..198--33 2,907,440 10/ 1959 Hait.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner.

1. IN A FRUIT PROCESSING MACHINE, A CONVEYOR HAVING A SUPPORT SURFACEWITH A HOLE ELONGATED IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR,SAID SURFACE BEING ARRANGED TO ADVANCE A FRUIT PLACED STEM END DOWN OVERTHE HOLE, A LEVER MOUNTED BELOW SAID CONVEYOR FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENTLONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CONVEYOR, A CENTERING PIN ON THE UPPER END OFSAID LEVER, MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID LEVER FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLYIN A DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CONVEYOR, MEANS FOR RAISING ANDLOWERING SAID LEVER IS TIMED RELATION WITH THE RECIPROCATING OF SAIDLEVER, A SPRING CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER TO PIVOT SAID LEVER TO AVERTICAL POSITION DURING FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER, AND AN ABUTMENTMEMBER MOUNTED BELOW SAID CONVEYOR IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF ONE END OFSAID LEVER AS SAID LEVER IS MOVED REARWARDLY WHEREBY TO PIVOT SAID LEVERTO AN INCLINED POSITION AGAINST THE RESISTANCE OF SAID SPRING.